The prostate is a small gland surrounding the neck of the bladder in males. It is located in front of the rectum and is wrapped around the urethra. The most spread prostate disease is its inflammation that is called prostatitis. There are four types of this disease: acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic prostatitis without infection and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. In this article we will consider the second type, namely chronic, or persistent, bacterial prostatitis.

Causes and symptoms

The causes of this type of inflammation are not fully understood. Some specialists believe that it may be caused by some unknown germ, by certain nerve problems, or by autoimmune disorders.

It is known for sure that chronic bacterial prostatitis is more likely to occur in men between 30 and 50, but it may affect men of any other age.

The symptoms of the disease may vary from person to person, below you will find the most common of them:

- since the prostate is located near the bladder, bacterial prostatitis symptoms are usually associated with urinary tract and include urgency, frequency, pain or burning during urination (dysuria), slow urine stream, inability to urinate and other difficulties during urination;
- another evident sign of this medical condition is recurring urine infection;
- men may feel pain at the base of the penis, around the anus, in the lower back or in the lower abdomen;
- it may be painful to pass faeces;
- some sexual problems may occur, including impotence, painful ejaculation or pain after sexual intercourse;
- at the same time the disease may often pass asymptomatic.

Diagnosis and treatment

In order to diagnose the prostate bacterial inflammation, your doctor should study your medical history and perform physical examination. As the prostate is located in front of the rectum it is usually observed during the rectal examination and it usually appears to be enlarged, soft and tender upon palpation.

Urinalysis is made to differentiate the type of prostatitis. The infection diagnosis also may require prostate fluid culturing and semen analysis. Blood test (prostate surface antigen) and imaging studies (like ultrasound, X-ray, or computerized tomography) may be required. The diagnosis requires so many analysis and studies as prostatitis may be easily confused with other urinary tract infection.

Chronic prostate inflammation is treated with long-term antibiotics administration. The most common drugs prescribed are:

- antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and erythromycin;
- analgesics like paracetamol may be prescribed to manage the pain;
- laxatives are applied if there are problems during passing the stool;
- alpha-blockers, such as tamsulosin and alfuzosin (medicines that relax prostate muscle tissues).

Prostate massage has proved to be beneficial for recovery. Treatment usually lasts from four to eight weeks, but it may require longer time.

Prognosis and prevention

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is rather rare medical condition. However, since this disease is referred to as chronic, it is likely to recur even after the appropriate treatment. Relapse may be provoked by prostatic hypertrophy or stones in the prostata gland, but in most cases it is difficult to predict its further development.

These articles can be used for informational purposes only. To get an accurate diagnosis consult your doctor!